The Iowa Court of Appeals has revived the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by an aide to Republicans in the Iowa Senate who was fired two and a half years ago.

Kirsten Anderson was communications director for Senate Republicans. Anderson says she was fired after complaining that comments from senators and male co-workers were creating a hostile work environment. Her bosses say Anderson was fired for poor job performance.

A Polk County District Court judge ruled Anderson had not exhausted all other means of protesting her firing through administrative channels and dismissed the case, but the Court of Appeals has reinstated Anderson’s lawsuit. State lawyers working on the case for Senate Republicans now have the option of asking the Iowa Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit.